Northwest Airlines reveals details of strike contingency plan

Airline Industry Information, August 12, 2005

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2005 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

Northwest Airlines Corp executives have said that they have 1,500 replacement staff and managers ready to take over from the airline's unionised mechanics if they decide to launch a strike on 20 August.

The executives of the airline have revealed more details about their strike plans, though the airline reportedly still would like to reach an agreement with the mechanics during the talks, which are set to resume after the weekend (15 August).

Northwest said that it has made arrangements for 300-350 managers to supervise an estimated 1,100 temporary mechanics. The airline also said that, in a strike, vendors would permanently take over so-called "line maintenance". Line maintenance is work that can be done at a gate or overnight away from the airline's Detroit and Minneapolis hubs, The Associated Press reported. The airline has said that the staff in Minneapolis and Detroit would not be permanent, although at some point permanent replacements would be hired, if a strike is launched. The airline has not revealed how soon such replacements would be hired.

According to Northwest, the airline has trained ground staff belonging to the International Association of Machinists to drive the tractors pushing aircraft from gates. Doug Steenland, the president and CEO of the airline, has declined to say whether he has received agreement to allow union members to carry out the work usually done by mechanics. It may however be noted that the IAM and Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, the mechanics union, have been rivals after the mechanics left the IAM in 1998.

((Comments on this story may be sent to aii.feedback@m2.com))